Florence The Flaming

FLORENCE

-A tale of vanity and pride-

FLORENCE is a flamingo of exceptional beauty. She is also vain. She is deeply proud of her graceful neck, her long slender legs, her pink tipped feathers and elegantly curved beak. Florence spends a great deal of time admiring herself in the waters of the lake where she is careful to stand in the center of the other flamingos so they can all admire her.

One summer the weather turns unusually hot. The waters of the lake start to dry up and the flamingo flock are worried. As the lake shrinks, they decide to leave and day by day, hundred of flamingos depart. They urge Florence to join them.

But Florence has discovered a new decoration on her body. The condensing water has created thousands of shining salt crystals which fasten themselves like a dazzling bracelet of diamonds around Florence's ankles. She will not leave.

Only when the crystals have formed a heavy 'boot' around each foot and she cannot move, does she realize how stupid she has been. She is stranded and alone. Fortunately the older, wiser flamingos return to peck away the crusty chains and free her.